What Did You Do Today?

[gja1000]

I'll be gone till the 18 th and you bet, I'll take lots of pictures!!!

[DIANE W]

Oh i hope the weather is good for you Gayle........ have a lovely time.

[gja1000]

Hi Diane, the forecast is wonderful for us, as we are into the 90's now (and it will only get hotter and hotter as the summer progresses). It looks to be in the 70's during the day and 40's - 50's at night. I don't even care if it rains which I'm sure it will! LOL!

[Lindsey]

That is so exciting Gayle!!! I can't wait to see your pictures You are going to have so much fun!!!

Janet, I was once a grad escort for a graduation in a city high school, and they did their dance/party part of the evening in a bar. There was no alcohol, of course, but there were snacks and music and dancing. Everyone was there in formal wear, BUT the meal with family and more formal part of the evening was done in a big hall before the party portion started! It is really common to do that here.

Being the small town girl that I am, our meal was in the hockey rink, the ceremony and "grand march" were in the school gym, and the party was in a farm yard

Ricky may or may not be with this girl for long, but he will have to come to the realization on his own. I know when I was younger (and even older lol!) my parents did not like some of the guys I dated. I'm still grateful that they never told me that. I feel that if I had known, I would have tried harder to see the good and prove it to my parents, but in the end I felt I could end things more easily if it was my decision alone.

I have been busy as usual! Scott was away for the weekend with my family (the guys all get together for a weekend sometime around father's day to go to a lake and golf, fish, and have drinks!). I decided to have two of my girl friends over on Saturday because their husbands were away too. One of the husbands came home that night and came over, and he noticed the siding on the house behind the barbeque was melted and warped We had barbequed burgers earlier. I was SICK thinking about how upset Scott was going to be, but in the end, it can be replaced pretty easily and there's no way it happened JUST from us. 10 minutes on medium heat wouldn't do that much damage! I just wish it would have happened with Scott barbequeing because I still feel so guilty about it!

I also spent the weekend working on some exchange student problems There is less than a month left and it bothers me to know someone is still so unhappy and her host family is not willing to work on it. We still have things to work out there this week and if we can't figure anything out, we may look at moving her for her last few weeks.

Oh and I am really excited about the birthday present I just got Scott!!!! His birthday is not until the end of July and I am awful, just AWFUL, at giving gifts. He always does so much better than me!!! Anyways, he's a big Vancouver Canucks fan. His dad's family lives in B.C. and he said he just always loved the Canucks because his grandpa loved the Canucks, and they would watch games together growing up. So, I talked to my brother about the best player on their team, past or present, and he mentioned Cam Neely, who later played with the Bruins for ages, but played with the Canucks for a few seasons in the 80's. He is the most famous player they've ever had. So I browsed ebay, and what do I find, but a used Canucks hockey puck, with Cam Neely's autograph and a certificate of authenticity. I bought it. I also found a Canucks team photo from the 85-86 season, which would have been Scott's first hockey season in life He was born in July 1985. So I bought that, and I can find a frame for it when it arrives. Finally, I found this really gorgeous glass puck display case on a black wood base, so the puck can be displayed. My fingers are crossed that this gift is going to make me wife of the year!

[DianaB]

Lindsey, what a nice gift you got for Scott!! I'm sure he'll be excited about it!! Oh, I finally looked at the pictures of your dress......How beautiful......you AND the dress!! Also....your laundry room looks very nice! I can't wait to see the finished pictures!!

Gayle, I hope you're having a great time!! I can't wait to see pictures!!

Janet, you did a good job by going to the graduation party. I'm sure that it meant a lot to Ricky.

I'm glad to hear that you're liking your new job! You'll get the hang of it one day!!

Shada.....I wish you lived closer......you do all the things I love to do too!! Garage sales.....consignment stores......estate sales!!! Fun!!

I've been so busy!! The weather has been so beautiful!! We still don't have our airconditioner on......it's usually on the first part of May!! I'm still working on flowers in the yard and still have a few more to plant but I'm getting closer to being done. In the meantime.......the house is a really huge mess!! I have got to get things cleaned up because I am so embarassed that it's so bad.

Dae Lynn's 30th birthday was yesterday. I bought her an antique sewing machine base with a nice wooden top that was cut down into a coffee table the other day. It was soooo cute and I would have bought it for myself if she wouldn't have wanted it!!

We had a baby shower for Jaci last night. She got soooo many nice things!! You could tell that Nate's Mom and I had really been buying a lot of things and that was only half of it because we have another shower on Saturday morning. We have 3 to 4 weeks left......the 3rd of July is her due date!! I can't wait!! You can tell that Jaci's getting nervous about the delivery.

I have a busy day today.......more work in the yard......including digging up some hostas for Dae Lynn (she's really gotten into planting things this year!!!) We're going to a couple of garage sales later this afternoon. There's a refrigerator that I want to check on for Dae Lynn. I have some sedum that I bought on e-bay and it needs to be planted. The pieces that I got are sooo small and they're going to have to be babied for a little while. Oh......and I finally got my greenhouse cleaned out and it's a lot more usable now. So I'm enjoying that!

My blood sugar levels are so much better.....if fact, I'm having problems with going too low now. My medicine just needs to be tweaked and I'm working on it.

Also my computer is running just awful! I found a list of things to do to help it run better and I've done all of that.......I'm thinking that it's about time for a new one. Glen's been talking about it as well so maybe we'll get two. We'll see. I just hate to have to buy a new one when I really don't "use" my computer for work but I'm so tired of it running slow and having looooonnnnnnnngggggggg pauses!!! LOL

Love ya'll!!!

[Janet]

Ricky did appreciate us going so I'm glad we went. Hopefully it will be the last event we ever have to attend with her family. Not my kind of people by any stretch of the imagination.

We've gone to look at a few houses for Ricky. Been mostly in bad shape for what he can afford. Rick and I were going to try and help him, maybe buy a house and sell it to him on contract, but we know he'll move that piece of white trash in with him, so he's on his own to buy one. I'm not liking her more and more all the time. Lazy!

I'm pretty sure I'm selling my mother's house. The people living in it would love to buy it so I will be visiting my attorney on Monday to see what needs to be done. I'd rather not pay the high fees of a Realtor. It was just too soon after Mom's passing to sell the house. It's an old house that will not go up in value unless major updating is done and I'm not willing to put the money into it for a rental. Hope I'm doing the right thing, I do feel pretty good about the decision, but always have doubts about whatever I do. Are any of you like that too?

It's been so beautiful the past few days. Highs in the high 70's to low 80's and sunshine with a breeze. I love sitting out in the swing especially of a morning.

So far today I've mopped the kitchen floor. I've had to spray for ants in the kitchen and I think they are done coming in. I also sprayed outside. It needed mopped in a bad way with dead ants and poop stains from the dogs.

Next weekend is my 40th High School Reunion. There are things scheduled for 3 days June 14th through the 16th. On Friday the 14th there is a tour of the library and an informal gathering at one of the restaurants in town. I'm not going on the tour, I've seen our library many many times, but I am attending the informal gathering. I told Rick he was welcome to go and I think he is going. On Saturday there is a luncheon at Arni's Pizza and then a tour of the old Jr. High building (called Old Stony) and then a tour of the High School. I'm really anxious to go on the tour. Been quite a few years since I've been in either of the buildings.

Then Saturday night there is a buffet meal at Arbor Wood, it's a really nice (formally a Country Club) place to meet, eat, have music...etc. It's located in our beautiful park. For that I'm going with a bunch of my high school girl friends, no husbands, although I think only two or three of us are married....lol Really looking forward to that night. Sunday will be a goodbye brunch at a classmates house. We have people coming from all over so I'm anxious to see everyone especially the ones that haven't been able to attend previous reunions. I'm sure it will be a good time!

Well, if I don't get busy I won't get anything done and will regret it when Monday gets here. Hope you all have a great weekend.

[Gina]

Hi I read some of the updated posts and glad to see everyone is doing well. I read that Gayle has gone to Europe how wonderful, I hope that she is having a great time in which I am sure that she is.

Janet I see that Ricky is still dating that girl what can I say, sad but we cannot say anything my daughter is dating a guy for 5 years he is a nice guy but I don't feel he is for her but I cannot say anything for she fights with me . So I will try to shut my mouth she has been in school for so long and has not dated many guys at all maybe one before and she is starting her new professional the world is at her fingertips but she does not see it. It breaks my heart and I pray it would end but she says he treats her wonderfully. I just wish she would go out there and not settle. It is very hard Janet but there is nothing we can say or do.

I am busy with work and had in laws in from Fla. they leaving tomorrow. I can't complain the market seems to be moving , its either feast or famine in this business . I am also getting ready to have a graduation party for her. It started small and now its turning into 100 + plus people yikes I am overwhelmed . But it should be beautiful.

I miss talking on here FB is ok I am getting tired of it. Just like to keep in touch with people and love looking at photos.

[Lindsey]

It's good to see you back here posting Gina I miss it here too. I am going to try posting here more often and hopefully we can find more time to talk like we used to around here!

In the past three evenings, I've had three meetings and three reports to write for our exchange students! They all leave soon - on the 28th of June. Before that, we'll need another set of meeitngs and reports with all of them, attending a "thank-you" barbeque they are putting on for their host families and everyone who has helped them along the way, and attending their graduation ceremony at the high school! I will be sad to see them go because they are all such great girls, but really excited to have a summer free of meetings and reports!!! We have been told that there probably won't be any students next year for our town, which is a relief because we were on the fence about if we'd do this again or not.

Oh, for my birthday, Scott let me go to a ceramics shop (this woman actually lives next door to my brother and runs ceramics classes in a shop in her back yard!) and pick out anything I wanted. I took ceramics classes when I was in high school and lived at home. It's something I really miss doing! This time, I won't be taking the classes because we live out of town, but I picked up some peices that have already been cleaned and fired and are ready for painting. I got three little turtle lawn ornaments, a Noah's ark lamp (I am making it as a gift for our neice's baptism next month), and a tortilla and salsa serving set for ourselves! I've decided Wednesdays will be my ceramics night - Scott is away at ball on Wednesdays, and he already set me up in the basement with a table covered in plastic, and put a nice bright light above it. I am so excited to get started!

[gja1000]

Janet, I thought you might keep your moms house to move into, someday.........

[Janet]

I know Gayle, I thought so too, and who knows I still may. It's an option I need to be on my laptop so I can type better. Have a lot to catch you up on. I hate to let it go, but it's old and really needs some work that I'm not willing to put into it. I just don't know what to do. If I have time this weekend with the reunion going on, I'll try to be back.

For the record Gina......I honestly hate that girl and as soon as Rick brings her out again, she'll know exactly how much.

[Janet]

Today is not starting off good, but that's another story. First off, let me clarify wanting to sell Mom's house. As you all know, when my mother passed, my brothers wanted to sell the house right away. I just wasn't ready yet so I bought it. I thought with the lousy marriage I have, that I may move into it someday. Just the right size for one person.

The people that live in it right now are interested in buying it, so if I make up my mind for sure to sell it, I know they will buy it. It's old, built in the mid 1940's and there are some things, not really noticeable, that need looked at. Also, if you're in the living room, looking into the kitchen, you can see the floor is not level, which means that someday the foundation will need looked into. So...I'm thinking in the long run, I don't want to spend my aging years ahead, trying to stay on top of repairs.

Another reason I have is, I have it pretty decent right now. I have a nice place to live, someone to help take care of it and I do what I want when I want to do it. I just don't have to be alone. Pretty selfish reasons to stay, I know. I can always leave if I want and I continue to put money back. The job at the Recorder's office allows me to put over $200 back every week, just for me.....in case.

Gina.......... looks like after last night, he won't be bringing this awful piece of garbage out any longer. Last night it was late and he was at it's house. I texted him this: "I can't sleep, on my iPad. Does your GF know you have to work tomorrow? Does your GF know I can't stand her?" Well, she was playing a game on his phone and saw the text when it came up. She has her own phone, don't know why she has to use his, but no excuses, it was my fault. I shouldn't have put something like that in writing. Shouldn't have said it at all...I'm an adult, but have been failing miserably at it lately.


Still loving my job, but I made a mistake yesterday and I really let it get to me. Seems my tough skin is getting thinner and thinner. So I shed a few tears. My boss said not to be so hard on myself, but I just can't help it.

Ricky was trying for this wonderful job at Suburu. Very high wages and he had his hopes up really high. He went through 2 tests and on the 3rd, wasn't asked to come back. He can't apply again for a year.

I have more....but running out of time this morning. Not sure when I'll be able to be back with my class reunion going on this weekend. Hopefully I can continue in the morning, but, not sure.

[Lindsey]

Janet, I think saying things about Ricky's girlfriend may end up just alienating him more from you. I think you've realized that you shouldn't have said it to begin with now. I was their age a lot more recently and I remember what it's like to be in that situation. My parents never said anything bad about my boyfriends, but my friends did. Even when I knew my friends were right, I would stay with my boyfriend because I was old enough to not have someone else telling me what to do! In the end, I'd not be with the boyfriend and I'd have lost the close relationships with my friends. The fact is, he's an adult now and should be able to make his own mistakes and learn how to navigate his relationships. If he is still spending time with her, there are things about her that he likes. I know it must be hard being a parent and wanting to protect him!

I hope you have a great time at your class reunion this weekend!!! I was really looking forward to having a 10 year reunion last year, but it never got off the gound. Everyone was just too busy to plan it. Now in the age of Facebook I think most people still keep in touch, or at least see where most people are at in their lives. I still think it would be fun to get together in person though. I'd also love to see my old teachers!

We are having a rainy weekend. We'll probably just end up working inside the house on renovation stuff. I want to start spring cleaning too. Our house needs a deep cleaning desperately!

[gja1000]

Hi Everyone!
I'm back from my trip to London & Paris. It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful. We spent five days in London and then took the EuroStar - sometimes called the bullet train, for good reason, it goes about 200 mph! Part of the trip is under the English Channel and it is pitch black when going through the (affectionately called) chunnel. We spent 3 days in Paris and then headed back to London for one more day, then we flew home.

I really did NOT like the 8-9 hour flight - that was rough, really rough. If I ever do that again, I'm taking pain meds and sleeping meds. LOL!

In London we saw the Tower of London, Thames river, Westminster Abby, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, London Eye, Florence Nightengale museum, Windsor castle, and many many art galleries/shops/and the like. We rode the Underground (subway) all over London and for anyone who's been there, yes we did "mind the gap". You hear this automated "mind the gap" message about a billion times when riding the underground. It means don't step in the space between the platform and the subway car.

We did a lot of shopping. Abigail was completely enthralled with all the different shops. We had a ball! We were very close to the high end shops too, Louis Vitton, Chanel, Tiffany and the like. Of course we couldn't buy anything there, but it was fun to look. Our apartment was only a block or so from Stella McCartney's (Paul's daughter) boutique.

The ride to Paris on the EuroStar was really cool. The English and French countryside is very beautiful. Both countries have fields of crops, and with all the rain they have, it was very lush and green.

Paris was different from London, everything is very old and a little dirty. It took us a bit to get used to the difference, but when we did we loved Paris too. We saw Notre Dame, Louvre, Museum d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe, and many other sights. We spent one day at Disneyland Paris. We hadn't planned to do that, but Abigail wanted to and so we went. It was really delightful. It is not yet high tourist season in either London or Paris, so there were NO LINES at Disneyland!! There really weren't lines at any thing at all. And in Paris, often Abi and I were the only English speakers in a tour group. Sometimes we were embarrassed to pull out our cameras and take pictures because we were the only tourists!!! But we did take lots of pics. I'll post some in the picture thread. Abi took lots more pics than me, she's a better photographer, and I need to get her pics downloaded to my computer.

[Lindsey]

Hi Gayle! It sounds like you had an amazing trip!!! Lol, Scott and I still say "Mind the gap" to each other. Our hotel in London also had a talking elevator and it would say "Going up!" "Fourth Floor" "Please mind the door" etc. So whenever Scott and I are on an elevator, we say those things in a British accent lol! We are nerds.

I really wanted to take the train through the chunnel!!! I've watched a bunch of shows about the building of the chunnel and it's something I really want to do someday! Since we were on a bus tour, we just took the ferry between Dover and Calais.

That is crazy you were the only English speakers in the tour group! Was the tour done in French?

I didn't like Paris as much as London, but we had more time in London so that might be why. I didn't really get to explore Paris much. I also found the people more rude and pushy. Scott and I know a bit of French so we tried to speak some there when we could, but it didn't really make a difference! We did go to different little towns around the French countryside and people were much nicer there, but of course, did not speak English at all!

[DianaB]

Again, I'm going to catch up with posts later but I just wanted to check in. I've been so busy in the yard planting flowers and stuff! I've been so excited since I found a website that has "junk" in the yard with flowers!! It's www.fleamarketgardening.org You'll have to check it out!!

Jaci's baby should be here soon!! Last week she wasn't in the birth canal so that was a concern but when she went to the doctor this week she's where she's suppose to be and Jaci is dialated to one!! We went to a greenhouse on Monday and Jaci lost her mucus plug while we were there so we're thinking that she will come early (her due date is July 3rd.) Jaci's wanting me to be at the hospital with her so I'm trying to stay close to the phone.......just in case. And wouldn't you know it.......my cell phone is not working!! Of all times for that to happen!!

We've had quite the explosion of babies in the Baker family!! Not only is Jaci pregnant but Glen's brother's family is expecting three babies.....two in July and one in December......I found out yesterday that Glen's sister's daughter is now pregnant!! And I know of another that is trying to get pregnant!! Lots of babies!!!!

So not much going on here.....planting flowers and plants.......watching kids.......and waiting for the phone to ring!!!